News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-14

direction, and I'll change my course and
run down both your miserable cock
shells, as sure as there's God"
There was dead silence after that
from the boats, but Ailsa, as she heard
the threat, clasped Allan's arm convul-
sively.
"AIlan, Allan how can you! And
my uncle, tool"
"Your uncle, Ailsa. Is he in the
boats 2"
"Of course he is. 1t was he who
spoke"
Allan's lips gave vent to long whis-
tie, but he answered finally, with a
broad smile upon his handsome face:
''Never fear, Alisa, darling, 1 won't
have to periure myself. His men heard
the threat, and that'll do. know the
Coast Guards. But come, my lass, one
word to Will, and then I'll show you
| your cabin.
In a moment he was again by her side
and led the way to the companion.
Descending the steps, he ushered Ailsa
within the apartment with "a grace
which would have become ghe COM
mander of a man-of-war.
Ailsa stopped short, for q moment
pected to find the painful neatness of a
trading sloop's cabin, but she stood in
stead within a large and brilliantly
lighted saloon, gorgeous with mirrors
and gliding, crimson carpets and uphol-
stering.
''This-this vessel is not "a trader"
she faltered, turning toward Allan.
"What is it, then p he asked smiling;
ga smuggler?"
'It is a yacht" said Ailsa, trembling
with tinidity and fear for she knew
what.
"Of course it's yacht" said Allan,
leading her gently to seat.
''Then you are not poor, but rich ?"
she said, looking at him with something
like dread.
Allan laughed.
"WeI, Tn rich enough to own lit
tie yacht, at all events" he answered
gayly. "But now, Ailsa, darling, before
we have any explanations, let me set
your mind at rest as to our future move
ments. 1t is all very simple. have
directed Will to see that we keep but
just so far ahead of the boats as will en-
courage them to follow us. Between
now and tomorrow morning we will
lead them pretty nearly all over the
sound, and when we get them just were
it suits us we'll pnt on sail and let them
drop. At sunrise well be out of sight,
and they will have some twenty miles
to row to reach home. Now, don't wor-
ry about your uncle, Ailsa, for he'll
have the easiest time of it all. It's the
poor rascals who pull the oars that you
should pity. But long before day you
will be safely at home again, and no one
will know where you have been or how
you came back. This is my plan, Ailsa,
and that is what we will do unless"
Allan paused, hesitated and turned
away.
"Unless what, Allan9" said Ailsa,
timidly.
He came again to her side and sank
upon his knees beside her chair, bending
his stately young head until it rested
upon her arm, while his dark eyes looked
up into her own.
''Ailsa, my darling; my own dear lit
tie lassie % he whispered, chow long is
my waiting to last? Won't you end it,
dearest? Are your nncle's whimsical
3n American, and a hundred. thousand
years ago, more or less, the Macfarlanes
and Gordons were foes. These were my
sins in his eyes, when L asked him, so
long ago, if might try to win you.
Such they will always be. But you are
of age, darling, and can end all this if
you will. 1 know that you care for me,
and II love you so dearly, that every
hour spend away from you is pain.
Ailsa, my own dear little girl, let me
take you home, as I said I would, but
give me the right to stay there with you
and meet your guardian strong in the
knowledge that you are my wife. Tell
me, Ailsa, shall we have it so2"
Ailsa's eyes grew dim with tears, but
she answered with a playfulness, which
to Allan Gordon seemed to convey every
thing of tenderness that the world con
tanned:
''You have carried me away from home
without asking my yea or nay, Allan.
You are wondrously polite to begin in
uuirino nv wishes now"